Suboxone

[Deb1955]

my son started suboxone treatment yesterday...   he was quiet at first...  it made him feel better than he did while going through withdrawal.....  but today he is aggitated, aggravated, and edgy.... he wants a pill really bad.....   is this normal???  Does he need a larger dose of suboxone....  ???  Can he up his own dose safely???  Help

[IBKleen]

Good Morning Deb.

Please let us know how your son made out at the doctor.

One thing I wanted to mention: Attending NA meetings is great, even if it is court ordered and he does not want to be there, he may still hear something that will click. However, it is strongly recommended in the fellowship that he get a sponsor, but that the sponsor be the same gender. Men with the men, and women with the women, as it states. He is new to recovery and it is important that he keep his focus on himself and not the opposite sex. Just wanted to mention that FYI.

Take care.

[johnnykelly]

Debbie a characteristic of an addict is the (I want more) phlosophy.I dont know how he was getting his medications,but if it was on the street, he needed money and at 200mgs a day that a100.00 or so.Addict 5tend to exaggerate,Ameliorate B>S>AS other peopll how have used more and longer And are adequately dosed on what he is taking.AS him his position if there where no Subutex and he had to Soldier UP and go cold Turkey.I am not trying to be mean,but he needs direction.AS perents we should show leadership and direction.Things will work out, give it some time. All the best John

[wait2long]

he may need a higher dose for the first week or so..then can get down to the lower dose...the first week or two is the hardest while his body is trying to rid itself of all the oxies he has taken for 3-4 years and break the habit...i was on 32 mgs for almost 6 weeks, but i was coming off methadone...i have lowered my dose alot with no (down to 10 mgs) problems...make sure to ask him if the sub is helping with cravings and withdrawals...if he is still having cravings...his dose most likely not high enough to start with...and the anxiety is also a withdrawal symptom...so make sure to mention this to his doctor...

[Deb1955]

he goes back to the doctor tomorrow.....  he has been attending NA meetings and has counseling through another service here in town.....  Court Ordered.......  but he only has to go to NA once a week for court.....  he went last night, and he is gone again tonight.....  I hope this means he is serious about quitting this stuff ....  it so prevelant where we live (Eastern Kentucky) it is known as Hillbilly Heroin .....  he has lost 5-6 friends bc of this **** ......  there have been small town murders here bc of it also .......  I just want him well and away from all of this .....

maybe the doctor will adjust his dosage.....  we have a friend who is a recovering addict.....  1 year clean in January....  she is his sort of sponsor .......

[mestiza]

16 mgs is from what my doctor said, what most hardcore drug addicts end up being comfortable with. I myself am at 12.  Like I said give it 2 or 3 days and your son along w/ his doctor will find the proper dosage, and may God bless you and all our wonderful mothers, whom have suffered right along with  us during our addiction if not more.  Just for the record just because i said its hard for a person to overdose on this stuff does not mean that its impossible.  My doctor said he would never prescribe anyone enough for that to happen.                I hope this helps,  If your son really needs another make sure he waits at least four hours before taking   or he could just take half of one and just tell his doctor tomorrow.  He did just give him enough for one day, right?  Please keep in touch, i will look forward to reading some update from you tomorrow.  This is one pill that we are allowed cutting in half or in quarters, unlike other pills.

[IBKleen]

Deb, to be honest, that is really not out of the realm of possibility. It is a huge amount, but not to an addict. So for that, 16 mgs should be enough for him. Again, talk to his doctor. I agree with mestiza that he should definately be attending counseling/therapy. I think it is necessary for long-term recovery.

[mestiza]

It'll work out, if he really wants it.  I just saw my doctor today and asked him a bunch of questions, some things that i might have read on here that are not necesarily 100% correct, but that;s besides the point.  My doctor whom i adore use to have a private practice, was a surgeon, but was also an alcoholic.  He of course has been clean for many years now.  Once clean he was offered the medical director position at the hospital, but he turned it down along with the prestige that goes along with it(not to mention the money). Instead he runs the detox center and the in/outpatient therapy groups. He is also very involved with AA. I know this is off the subject, what i was getting to is i hope they are making him go to therapy.  There are some doctors that are prescribing this without therapy to go along with it.  They are making a bunch of money, and my doc said that this was unethical.  As far as the medication is concerned you'll be happy to know that it is very hard for a person to overdose on this. There is a point where the drug is cutt off and you wont even feel it no matter how much  more      you take. Unless of course you mix this with something else

[Deb1955]

he has used 3-4 years ..... my opinion is alot.... idk for sure.....i just asked and he said about 200mgs of oxycodone a day....   that amount sounds huge to me.....  i do not understand all of this addiction stuff.....  i just want him well.....

[IBKleen]

Hi!

16 mgs is a fairly high dose, but it depends on much pain meds he was taking and for how long. If you know that, you may want to mention it to the doctor.

For me, 16 mgs nearly knocked me out, so every one is different.

Let us know how you make out tomorrow. Take care.

[Deb1955]

he is supposed to take 8 mgs twice a day ....... he has already taken two today......  not good....  we go back tomorrow .....maybe the doc will up the dose .....    and yes...  I think he misses popping a pill .......  hopefully ..... he can be like you .....

[mestiza]

Since he just started the sub, he and his doctor are going to have to find the right  mgms.  He might not be feeling quite as bad as he says, but might miss popping the pills, or he might be feeling pretty crappy and there is a possibility of that.  Doctors arent mind readers that is why we have to be really honest with them in order for them to help us accordingly. Do you know how many he has taken, how many mgms?  The first tiem i got mine, he only gave me enough for 1 day,  4mgms every four hours.  that night my knees were hurting something terrible, but the next morning he uppped it to 12 mgs for the day and i have been on that for two months now.  No withdrawals, no cravings.